Piper: SC dog with pipe on his head is now free

According to animal control officers and residents in the Westminster area, the dog with a chimney pipe on his head is now free. Fox Carolina News reported the good news May 19.

The dog, dubbed 'Piper,' had been elusive for the past week since he was first spotted in Oconee County, showed up Monday morning without the pipe.

Animal Rescue Foundation began rescue efforts mid-week, using volunteers, animal control and veterinarians who eventually set traps and coralled off a portion of woodland in the mountainous regions where Piper and a female dog friend were spotted.

Efforts will continue Monday to try and catch the dogs, who will need vetting and spay/neuter. A spokesperson for animal control said they have gathered additional supplies to help with his capture.

Animal control is asking everyone to keep the area clear, so as not to frighten the dog, as Piper is only familiar with a few who have been feeding him.

One person has has helped care for Piper has expressed the desire to bond with the dog, and it's hoped Piper (and his female friend) can be socialized.

No one knows how Piper ended up in the area. Like with many upstate areas, people often dump their pets in the country rather than taking them to the county animal shelter. Abandoning an animal is illegal in South Carolina, and people are urged to bring their unwanted pets to the shelter.

No one knows how Piper got the pipe off of his head, but witnesses state the dog had a big steak in his mouth.

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Elisa Black-Taylor is an avid dog lover and is often called a pet whisperer as she's a former rescuer of dogs and cats on death row at the Greenville County Animal Care Services shelter located in Greenville, SC.
Elisa's areas of interest include reporting cases of abuse, dog health, dog heroes and is an active advocate for tougher animal cruelty laws. Her current mission is to reduce the number of dogs shot and killed by untrained police officers. Elisa also devotes a lot of time to raising funds for medical rescues, as well as promoting shelter adoption at high-risk shelters
The love of her life was a 12 year old boxer named Dreyfuss, who chose her as his mom at the age of 6 weeks. He died of old age on September 6, 2012